Before I mow, how important is it to pick up the large sticks and branches that have accumulated on my lawn over the winter?

Nervous in Norwood

Dear Nervous:

Let’s face it, walking around the lawn picking up branches defeats the entire purpose of buying a rider mower, namely, to do yard work without getting any accidental exercise. But never fear — modern mowers are more than capable of crunching even the largest branches into attractive piles of mulch. The same goes for tennis balls, badminton birdies and polyurethane garden decorations shaped like Winnie the Pooh.

Do draw the line at large chunks of abandoned concrete, though. Boy, did I find that out the hard way.

Dear Mr. Handy:

I understand that a modern mower can grind even the most stubborn lawn obstacles into powder, but what about the warning in the owner’s manual about how it can turn objects you run over into dangerous projectiles?

Skeptical in Scranton

Dear Skeptical:

The first mistake you made is reading the owner’s manual. Companies only publish owner’s manuals to satisfy their attorneys, and they are of relatively little use to you as the consumer. You can put it right into the trash, along with the warranty card and your sales receipt.

That said, the issue of projectiles is a serious one and requires that you take some precautions. That’s why while mowing, you should make sure that family members and pets are inside the house, away from all doors, windows or other openings that could be susceptible to a polyurethane Winnie the Pooh launched at high speed. I usually make my family crawl on the floor under the windowsills until the mower is back in the shed.

Dear Mr. Handy:

My new lawnmower has six different blade heights. How do I know which one to use?

Sweating in Saugus

Dear Sweating:

Stick with somewhere in the middle: If you put the blade too high, it seems like the grass is actually growing in again right behind the mower, like a crazed Chia Pet. But put it too low and you can leave a wide, smoking gully behind you for the entire length of your yard. (Looking back, the choking cloud of dirt probably should have tipped me off.)

Dear Mr. Handy:

I’ve been told that while mowing, it’s important to wear safety goggles. Do you concur?

Wondering in Wellesley

Dear Wondering:

Absolutely! Unless they keep you from being able to see your beer.

Dear Mr. Handy:

How concerned do I have to be about being struck by lightning as I mow the lawn?

Cautious in Canton

Dear Cautious:

I suspect you saw the UPI story last week about the Texas man struck by lightning while mowing. But you should be aware that authorities considered this to be a freak accident, without a clear meteorological explanation. Most likely the guy was just a grievous sinner.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some reasonable steps so as not to tempt fate. For instance, don’t mow a golf course during a thunderstorm while carrying a flagpole.

Boy, did I find that out the hard way.

Peter Chianca is Sunday’s managing editor and the brains behind the “The Shorelines Blog” (blogs.townonline.com/shorelines). To receive At Large by e-mail, write to info@chianca-at-large.com, with the subject line “SUBSCRIBE.”